Returns earned over a given time period are called realized returns. Historical data on realized returns is often used to estimate future results. Analysts across companies use realized stock returns to estimate the risk of a stock.

Consider the case of Falcon Freight Inc. $($FF$)$:

Five years of realized returns for FF are given in the following table. Remember:

$1.$ While FF was started $40$ years ago, its common stock has been publicly traded for the past $25$ years.

$2.$ The returns on its equity are calculated as arithmetic returns.

$3.$ The historical returns for FF for $2014$ to $2018$ are:

$2014$

$2015$

$2016$

$2017$

$2018$

Stock return $16\mathrm{.}25\%11\mathrm{.}05\%19\mathrm{.}50\%27\mathrm{.}30\%8\mathrm{.}45\%$

Given the preceding data, the average realized return on FF$$s stock is $.$

The preceding data series represents of FF$$s historical returns. Based on this conclusion, the standard deviation of FF$$s historical returns is $.$

If investors expect the average realized return from $2014$ to $2018$ on FF$$s stock to continue into the future, its coefficient of variation $($CV$)$ will be